Lighting and indicating system



April 23, 1940. F. A. RENO LIGHTING AND INDICATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 21, 1958 M 5 :7 /ed/% 2797/0.-

Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE j 4 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to a lighting and indicating system, and is in particular concerned with a system of such character that the failure of one light-producing element of the system will result in another lightproducing element being substituted in its stead, and will indicate that fact visually.

The invention embodying the hereindescribed invention is susceptible of a multitude of applications and uses. It has been found to be particularly useful and advantageous when embodied in the lighting system of a vehicle, such as an automobile.

Arrangements have heretofore been proposed in connection with vehicle lighting systems, whereby upon the failure of a headlight, taillight, etc., this fact is indicated in some manner, usually by an indicating light on the dash of the vehicle.

While such an arrangement apprises the operator of a burned-out lamp, so that it may be replaced at the first opportunity, it frequently happens that a spare lamp is not readily available and the operator is forced to drive the car with, for example, a single headlight, or a single taillight. Under such conditions, the lighting is not only inadequate insofar as the particular car is concerned, thus subjecting the car to the hazard of unsafe operation, but the car likewise presents a dangerous hazard to other cars and endangers the safety of their occupants.

With a view to overcoming such conditions, the present invention proposes to provide a lighting and indicating system wherein, upon the failure of a light-producing element, another light-producing element will be immediately substituted in its stead, and the fact immediately indicatedv For example, in using my invention on a vehicle, a burned-out bright headlight filament would automatically be replaced by the dim headlight filament, and a burned-out taillight filament would be replaced by the stop light filament.

It will therefore be evident that my improved system entirely eliminates the commonly called one-eye operation of the vehicle.

Moreover, in the event that the indicator should not function, the vehicle with one bright headlight and one dim headlight would attract the attention of a traffic policeman, who, seeing this abnormal condition, would call it to the attention of the driver, thus providing an added check on the condition of the vehicle lamps.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting system utilizing a double filament lamp or two separate lamps, and improved relay means arranged to automatically substitute the remaining filament or lamp for whichever lamp or filament is burned out.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a system of the hereindescribed character, improved indicating means for automatically indi-' cating current failure in a lamp circuit for any reason, for example, burning out of the lamp filament, circuit wire breakage, etc.

A further object is to provide in such systems an indicating arrangement which will continue to indicate until the damaged lamp or circuit is repaired.

Another object is to provide a lighting system, which is particularly adapted for use in connection with vehicles, which will eliminate the socalled one-eye operation of the vehicle.

Still another object is to providea lighting system utilizing a lamp substitution arrangement, wherein the character of the substituted lamp acts as an indicator to show that the system is operating abnormally.

A still further object is to provide a novel and improved relay for use in connection with a system such as described herein.

Other objects of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure l is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical connections between the various instrumentalities utilized in my improved system;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the improved relay utilized in my system; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, partly in section, showing the operative relationship of the contacts of the improved relay.

As shown on the drawing:

For purposes of illustrating my improved lighting and indicating system, the system is disclosed and described as being applied to a vehicle, such as an automobile. In general, the system is interconnected with the switches usually provided in the vehicle for controlling the headlights, taillights and stop lights of the vehicle. A plurality of magnetically actuated switches or relays are utilized for automatically carrying out the features of the system and controlling a plurality of indicating lamps. The relays maybe sepa-- rately housed and mounted in any convenient place on the vehicle. The indicating lamps are preferably mounted in an individual housing which is supported on the dash of the vehicle where they may be conveniently viewed by the operator. These signal lamps are interconnected with the relays in such a manner that the lamps will indicate to the operator whenever one of the filaments of the lamps becomes burned out or the circuit of the lamp filament becomes opened or otherwise damaged so that it will not carry current.

Referring to Figure l, the vehicle lamps controlled by my improved system comprise a left headlight it, a right headlight H, a left rear light l2 and a right rear light l3.

In the present instance, the headlights are shown as being of the double filament type each containing a filament M which is energized for intense illumination and a filament l5 which is energized for reduced or dim illumination.

Likewise, the rear lamps of the vehicle are also shown as being of the double filament type, one filament as shown at 5 being energizable ior the usual taillight illumination, and the other filament as shown at ll being energizable to give increased illumination such as ordinarily embodied in the stop light of the vehicle.

Now while the vehicle lamps have been shown as of the double filament type, it will be readily apparent that the system of my invention may with equal facility be utilized where the filaments are contained in separate lamps rather than in the same lamp.

The signal lamps corresponding to the vehicle lamps are respectively indicated at ill, I l, l2 and I3.

As in the usual installation, the vehicle lamps are arranged to be illuminated from an electrical source, in this instance. a battery l8. The usual switches of the automobile are incorporated in the system, a dimmer switch i9 which may be located for foot operation and utilized for causing dimming of brightly illuminated headlights, when desired by the operator.

Switch 20 corresponds to the usual manually controlled switch for connecting the headlights for bright or dim operation, and switch 2! is for controlling the taillights. Switch 22 is a normally open switch arranged to light the stop light filaments whenever the brake is depressed. An additional switch may also be provided, this switch being indicated at 23, for controlling the indicating lamp supply.

The control of the vehicle lamps as well as the indicating lamps is accomplished through a plulality of relays 24 to 23 inclusive. It will be noted that the relays are all similarly constructed and contain a plurality of normally closed contacts which are arranged to be actuated to open position by means of a solenoid operatively associated wit. the operating coil of the relay.

In the case of relays 2-; to El inclusive. the contacts are separated into two groups, namely a triple contact group 25 and a double contact group 3!. These two groups of contacts are siin ultaneously controlled by the operation of the relay with which they are associated, but are electrically insulated relative to each. other.

In the case of relays 28 and 29, each of these relays has a triple set of contacts, but does not contain the double set as in the case of the other relays.

As more specifically shown in Figure 2, the relay comprises a U-shaped frame 32 which may be formed from a strip of suitable metal to provide spaced legs or side members 33 and which are connected at their bottom ends by cross member 35.

A solenoid coil 36 is vertically supported on cross member 35 and held in position by inwardly struck fingers 3! and 3B of the side members, which engage the upperend of the coil spool and hold the coil in position relative to the frame.

The uppermost ends of the side members 33 and 34 are respectively connected to a plate 38 of suitable insulating material. This plate serves as a support for a plurality of depending U- shaped stationary contact members 40 which may be connected at its base as by a rivet terminal 4! so as to depend from the plate 36 with its ends #2 and 43 spaced therebelow.

Operatively associated with the coil 36 is a solenoid member 44 which is secured in any appropriate manner to a transversely extending bar 45, the solenoid being connected intermediate the ends of the bar. This bar forms a support for a plate 45 of insulating material, the bar being comiected to the plate by end fingers 4'! which are adapted to be bent around opposite edges of the plate 46 and clamped thereto as shown in Figure 2.

For simultaneous actuation, a phu'ality of contact members 40 may be supported from the plate 39 in aligned spaced apart relationship as shown in Figure 2.

Each set of contacts is cooperatively associated with a contact 48 carried by the plate 46. The contact 48 is of angular cross section, one leg of the angle being secured as by a rivet 49 tothe plate 45, and the other leg projecting upwardly between the ends of the contact members 40.

The legs of each contact member 40 are provided with angularly disposed portions 50 and 5! which form-abutments for a tubular member 52 of insulating material, which is affixed to the uppermost edge of the upright leg of the contact.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that the ends 42 and 43 of the contacts 40 are normally electrically connected to contact member 48 by virtue of contact therewith, and that all the contact members 40 of a given set vrlll be electrically interconnected. If, however. the contact member 48 is moved downwardly, which may be accomplished by energizing the coil 36 of the relay, the tubular member 52 is brought into engagement with the portions 56 and 5! of the contacts 4!}. This will operate to spread the ends 4?. and 43 thereof apart and move them out of engagement with the vertical leg of contact 48. r

Under these conditions, the respective contacts 46 of the set will be electrically disconnected relative to each other.

By making the contacts 40 out of spring material,- the inclined portions 50 and 5| acting against the periphery of the tubular insulating member 52, will act to raise contact 48, when the operating coil 36 of the relay is de-ener- As the contact 48 is again moved upwardly, the ends 42 and 43 of contacts 40 will again make engagement with the vertical leg of contact 48 and interconnect the contacts of the set.

In order to prevent the solenoid from moving the contacts 48 downwardly to such an extent that the tubular member 52 will be carried past the lowermost ends of the inclined portions 50 and 5!, a screw member 53 is threadedly supported in the cross member 35 of the frame. The screw 53 serves to form an abutment at its upper end for the lower end of the solenoid. The amount of downward movement of the solenoil may therefore be adjusted, that is, increased or decreased, by actuating the screw 53 to raise or be energized through the following circuit: From lower its upper end in its relation to the coil of the solenoid.

The operation of the system will now be explained.

Bright headlights The bright headlights, that is filaments I4 of the-lamps I8 and II, may be energized by closing switch 28 in the direction shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

In this position of switch 28, filaments I4 will be energized through the following circuits. From the positive side of battery I8, through conductor 54, conductor 55 to switch 28, conductor 56, through the upper contacts of switch I9, conductor 5I, conductor 58 to one side of the operating coil of relay 25, from the other side of this coil through conductor 58 to the triple contacts of relay 24, through conductor 68 to one side of filament I4, from the other side of filament I4 to ground and thence back to the other side of battery I8.

Lamp II hasdts filament I4 energized through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery I8, conductor 54, conductor 55 to switch 28, through conductor 56, the upper contacts of switch I9, conductor 5! to one side of the operating coil of relay 21, from the other side of this coil through conductor 6| to the triple contacts of relay 26, thence through conductor to one side of the filament I4 of lamp I I, from the other side of this filament to ground, and thence back to the negative side of battery I8.

Since the operating coils of relays 25 and 21 1 are energized, these relays will operate to open their contacts. The contacts of relays 24 and 26 will remain closed. With the filaments I4 energized, the bright headlights will be on. some reason the energizing circuits of these filaments should become opened, or if the filaments themselves should be burned out, there will immediately be a transfer to filament I5 in the lamp or lamps which may be burned out. For example, let it be assumed that filament I4 of lamp I8 burns out for some reason. Under this condition, the energizing circuit through the operating coil of relay 25 will be de-energized and permit the contacts of this relay to close. This operation of relay 25 will energize filament I5 of lamp I8 through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery I8, through conductor 54, conductor 55 to switch 28, through conductor 56, the upper contacts of switch I9. conductor 51, conductor 58, conductor 63 to the triple contacts of relay 25, thence through conductor 64 to one side of filament I5 of lamp I8, and thence through ground to the negative side of the batry.

The bright filament I4 of lamp I I will continue to be energized while the dim filament I5 of lamp I8 will replace the burned-out filament I4 of lamp I8 so as to enable driving the car with two headlights instead of only one which would be the ordinary case. It will be noted that since the lamps I8 and II are now operating with different brilliances, this fact would serve as an indication to persons outside the vehicle that the lamps were operating abnormally. Particularly, in the case of trafiic policemen, the abnormal operation would be called to the attention of the vehicle operator. This indication serves as a check on the main indicating system within the vehicle, which will now be described.

As soon as relay 25 closes its contacts, indicating lamp I8, corresponding with lamp I8, will If forv the positive side of battery I8, through conductor 54, conductor 55, through switch 23- which is closed, thence through conductor 65 to the double contacts of relay 25, thence through conductor 66 to the double contacts of relay 24, conductor 61 to one side of the filament of lamp I8, thence through conductor 68 to ground and back to the negative side of battery I8.

In the event that lamp II should burn out its filament I4 instead of lamp I8 as described, the relays 26 and 21 would operate in a manner similar to relays 24 and 25 just described, and would substitute the dim filament I5 for the bright filament I4 of lamp I I. In this case, however, indicating lamp II would be energized through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery I6, through conductor 54, conductor 55, switch 23, conductor 69, through the double contacts of relay 2I, conductor I8 to the double contacts of relay 26, thence through conductor II to one side of the filament of lamp II, from the other side of this filament to conductor 68, to ground and back to the negative side of battery I8.

Dim headlights For normally energizing the dim headlight filaments I5 of lamps I8 and II, the switch 28 is closed on the side indicated by full lines in Figure 1. Filament I5 of lamp I8 will be energized through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery I8, through conductor 54, conduc tor 55 to switch 28, through switch 28 to conductor I2, conductor I3 to one side of the operating coil of relay 24, from the other side of this coil through conductor to the triple contacts of relay 25, through these contacts and conductor 64 to one side of filament I5 of lamp I8, from the other side of this filament to ground and thence back to the negative side of battery I8.

Relay 24 having its coil thus energized will open its contacts.

Filament I5 of lamp II will be energized through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery I8, through conductor 54, conductor 55 to switch 28, conductor I2, conductor I3 to one side of the operating coil of relay 26, from the other side of this coil through conductor I6 to the triple contacts of relay 2I, thence through'conductor II to one side of filament I5 of lamp II, from the other side of this filament to ground, and thence back to the negative side of battery I 8.

In the event that filament I5 of either of the lamps I8 or II should become burned out or the energizing circuits thereof become opened for any reason, then the operating coils of relays 24 and 26 become de-energized, depending upon which of the filaments has burned out, and permit the relay to close to immediately substitute the bright filament I4 therefor and energize the appropri ate indicating lamp. For example, let it be assumed that filament I5 of lamp I8 has burned out, then filament I4 thereof will immediately'be substituted, filament I4 being energized through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery I8, through conductor 54, conductor 55 to switch 28, thence through conductor I2 to the triple contacts of relay 24, which are now closed, through conductor 68 to one side of filament I4 of lamp I8, and from the other side of this filament through ground back to the negative side of battery I8.

Closing of the contacts of relay 24 will energize indicating lamp Ill through the circuit previously described therefor.

In the event that element 15 of lamp l I should be burned out, the filament l4 thereof will immediately be substituted by the operation of relay 2B, which will be similar to the operation just described for relay 24.

Taillights The taillights, that is, filaments l6 oi the lamps l2 and i3, are energized by the closing of a control switch such as shown at 2i which forms a part of the usual control for the vehicle lighting system.

Closing of switch 2i will energize filament H3 of lamp l2 through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery 18, through conductor 54, conductor 55 to switch 2|, conductors 18 and T9 to one side of the operating coil of relay 29', from the other side of this coil through conductor to one side of filament ill of lamp l2, from the other side of this filament through ground back to the negative side of battery I3.

Filament E5 of lamp It will be energized through the following circuit: From the positive side or battery it through conductor 5d, conductor 55 to switch 2i, conductors i8 and Bi to one side of the operating coil of relay 28, from the other side of this coil through conductor 82 to one side of filament E6 of lamp 13, from the other side of this filament through ground back to the negative side of battery l8.

Since the filament 15 of each of the lamps l2 and i3 is energized, the operating coils of relays 28 and 29 are likewise energized and these relays will open ti contacts.

With both taillights burning, should either or both of the filaments i0 become burned out or their circuits become opened, immediately the associated stop light fiament I? will e substitutecl therefor. example, assuming that filament H; of lamp l2 should burn out, filament l! thereof will be energized through the following circuit: from the positive side of battery it, through conductor 5-5, conductor to switch 23, through conductor 53, conductor 83 to the triple contacts of relay 29, this relay having closed its contacts due to the dcenergization of its operati coil, thence through conductor to one side of filament ll of lamp It, from the other side of this filament through ground back to negative side of the battery l3.

Upon the closure of the contacts of relay 2..,

the corresponding indicating lamp l2 will energ through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery it, through conductor conductor switch conductor conductor to the triple contacts of relay 2S, thence through conductor 85 to one side of the filament of lamp from the other side of this filament to conductor fill and thence through ground back to the negative side of battery I8.

If filament E5 of lamp l3 burns out, the sto light filament ll would immediately be subst tilted therefor the proper indication made virtue of the closing of the contacts of relay 25: in a similar manner to the closing of the contacts of relay 29 just described. In this case, the indicating lamp it would have its filament energized through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery 58. through conductor 54, conductor 55, switch conductor conductor 83, through the triple contacts of relay 28, conductor 85 to one side of the filament of lamp 13, from the other side of this filament to conductor 68,

and thence through ground back to the negative side of battery l8.

Stop light The stop light filaments ll of lamps l2 and I3 are arranged to be energized in the usual manner by the actuation of a normally open switch such as shown at 22 whenever the brake pedal is depressed. Upon the closing of this switch, the filaments IT of lamps l2 and (3 will be energized through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery 18, through conductor 54, conductor 55, switch 22, conductor 81 to one side of filament ll of lamp l2, from the other side of this filament to ground and thence back to the negative side of battery l8. In the case of lamp l3, its filament ll will be energized through the following circuit: From the positive side of battery l3, through conductor 54, conductor 55, to switch 92, thence through conductor 88- to one side of the filament l! of lamp it, from the other side of this filament to ground and thence back to the negative side of battery it.

The auxiliary dimming switch [9, which is arranged for the usual foot operation, may be used for temporarily switching the headlights from bright to dim operation. This switch has normally open contacts 89 which may be temporarily closed to effect the same circuit connections as when switch is thrown to the position shown in full lines. In throwing the switch id so as to close contacts the circuit to the bright headlight filaments through the normally closed contacts of this switch is temporarily opened.

From the foregoing description of the operation of my system, it will be evident that when utilizing double filament lamps, the indicating lamps will also function at any time a lamp is removed from its socket while it is burning. or in the event that both filaments of a single lamp should become burned out r have their circuits opened. In the event that a circuit for a lamp is not entirely open but contains a loose connection, the vibrations at this connection will cause a flickering of the indicating lamp and thus serve to inform the operator that the trouble is in a loose connection and not because of a burncd-out filament in the lamp. This acts as a means to localize the trouble in the system, so that it may be more readily found and corrected.

Although a switch 23 is shown for disconnecting the indicating circuit from the source of power supply, this switch might be eliminated, if desired.

If this switch is eliminated, the operator will be unable to shut off an indicating lamp, once it has lighted due to failure in the lighting system, until the system is repaired and restored to normal condition.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved lighting system utilizing a double filament lamp, or separate lamps, and improved relay means arranged to automatically substitute for whichever lamp or filament is burned out, the remaining lamp or filament; which embodies improved indicating means for automatically indi cating current failure in. a lamp circuit; which will continue to indicate until the damaged lamp or circuit is repaired; a system which 7111 eliminate the so-called one-eye operation of vehi cles; a filament substitution system in which the main filament and substituted filaments have different lighting characteristics, whereby the abnormal operation is indicated whenever a substitution takes place; and a lighting system which embodies the use of a novel and improved relay.

It is, of course, to be understood that although I have described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, the invention is not to be thus limited, but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lighting system comprising a source of electrical energy; a first relay, 2. second relay, each of said relays having an actuating coil and energizable to open a plurality of normally closed contacts; a first light emissive means; a second light emissive means; a first pair of parallel circuits, one of said circuits containing said first means, contacts of said first relay and the coil of the second relay in series, and the other circuit the second means and contacts of the second relay in series; a second pair of parallel circuits, one of said circuits containing said second means, contacts of the second relay and the coil of the first relay in series, and the other circuit the first means and contacts of the first relay in series; and a switch operable to selectively connect said pairs to said source.

2. A lighting system comprising a source of electrical energy; a first relay, a second relay, each of said relays having an actuating coil and energizable to open a plurality of normally closed contacts; a first light emissive means; a second light emissive means; a first pair of parallel circuits, one of said circuits containing said first means, contacts of said first relay and the coil of the second relay in series, and the other circuit the second means and contacts of the second relay in series; a second pair of parallel circuits, one of said circuits containing said second means,

contacts of the second relay and the coil of the first relay in series, and the other circuit the first means and contacts of the first relay in series; a switch operable to selectively connect said pairs to said source,-and an indicating circuit controlled through contacts of both of said relays.

3. A lighting system comprising a supply circuit, a relay having an actuating coil energizable to open normally closed contacts, a first lamp connected to said circuit in series with said coil, a second lamp connected to said circuit in series with said contacts, an indicating circuit energizable when said relay is de-energized, and switch means for energizing said second lamp independently of said contacts and while said contacts are open.

4. In a lighting system, a source of electrical energy, a first relay, a second relay, each of said relays havingan operating coil and contacts adapted to close when the relay operating coil is de-energized and open when the operating coil is energized, a pair of lamps, one of said lamps having an energizing circuit including the operating coil of the first relay and the contacts of the second relay, the other of said lamps having an energizing circuit including the operating coil of the second relay and the contacts of the first relay, switch means for selectively energizing either of said circuits and the lamps therein, and a cir- 

